Steam-trap and boiler-feeder



(N0 Model.)

P. H. WEST. STEAM TRAP ANDfBOILER FEEDER. No. 276,107.

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NITED STATES PATENT Enron. j

STEAM-TRAP AND BONER-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,107, dated April 17', 1883. Application tiled December 29, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. WEST, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at- Mil- I waukee, in the county ot' Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Traps and Boiler-Feeders; and I do hereby declare thc followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked tlieieon,v\'hicl1form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is threefold: first, to return water of condensation from steam coils and heaters back to the boiler; second, to introduce a fresh supply of water to the boiler; third, to relieve the steam-coils from the accumulation ot' air.

By my improvement all the valve-ports for steam, air, and water are located in-a single stationary valve-tube and simultaneously operated by the gravity of the water which passes through the apparatus, whereby a positive uniform action of the valves is insured.

The construction of my invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represen ts a perspective view. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section ot' the center block. Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section ot' the valve-sleeve, showing the relative arrangement of the several ports.

Like parts are represented by the same reference-letters throughoutthe several views.

A A are water-chambers, into which the water resulting` from condensation of steam in the steam coils or pipes, as well as such additional supply as maybe required, is received. rlhe said water-chambers are supported and adapted t0 oscillatc upon the central tubular valve, C. The valve-tube communicates with the coils through pipe N, and from thence to the boiler through pipe J. The valve C is provided with ports a a upon the inlet side ot' said valve, which ports communicate through corresponding ports, d d, in sleeve D. The said ports in both the sleeve and valve are so arranged that communication is opened through them to the water-chambers only as such chambers are thrown upward, and is closed as they descend, while, on the contrary, the outlet-ports g g, leading from vsaid water-chambers through the sleeve-ports h h to the boiler, are closed as said chambers ascend and opened as they descend. Thus it is obvious that when the upper chamber is heilig tilled the lower oneis beingemptied, and that the gravityot1 the water in the upper chamber, when filled,will .countcrbalance the lower chamber when emptied, whereby said chambers are caused to oscillate until all the water in the steam-pipes escapes into the boiler.

It is intended to locate the machine, when in operation, above the boiler, when the water thus forced into the respective chambers is ejected therefrom by its own gravity, the steam being admitted from the boiler to said chambers above the water by tubes E E, whereby an equilibrium of pressure is established betwecnthe boiler and thedischargingchambers.

F F are steam-ports. rlheir arrangement is such that they are opened into communication with the respective water-chambers only when the inlet water-ports to such chambers are closed, such chambers having first been filled with waterandhavingdescended,as mentioned, and all ingress of water having been thereby cut off, and the said steam-ports having been opened, the steam rushes into said chambers above the water through said pipes E E, and thus counter-acts the boiler-pressure below the Water, when the water flows of its own gravity down into the boiler through pipe J.

G is a steam-chamber located between the inlet and outlet ports in valve C. Said chamber G is at all times in communication with the boiler through the steam-tube H, and is alternately brought into communication with the respective water-chambers as such chambers descend.

A is an air-chamber, which communicates with the exterior air through tube B.

C represents one ofthe two air-ports formed in the valve-tube U, which ports respectively communicate through corresponding ports, D D', in the sleeve D, and from thence through pipes E E to the respective water-chambers A A. The arrangement of the respective airports in the sleeve and valve-tube is such that they are opened into communication with the so that as such chambers are being filled withi water the air and steam therein are permitted to escape, and as the water is cut ed by 'their` descent and the steam admitted above the water the said air-valves are closed.

The device thus far described is all that is required for successfully returning the water of condensation back to a boiler. In addition, however, to the function described, the apparatus is adapted to eject a fresh supply of water to the boiler, as mentioned. To accomplish this end it becomes necessary to add simply another chamber, H', to the valve G, which chamber communicates with a water-reservoir through tube I' and with the respective waterchambers A A through tubes J J'.

` Two ports, K', are formed in the valve-tube G, corresponding with the ports Il' L' in the sleeve D, by which the admission of water from pipe I' to the'water-chambers is alteriiately permitted and cut off as said waterchambers are oscillated. The water-pipe I is provided with a cock by which the admission of water is governed as occasion requires. The air-tube Z1' is also provided with a cock, by which it may be closed when the air has been permitted to escape, it being necessary to open such cock in starting or occasionally as air accumulates in the coils. In case, however, it is desired to operate the apparatus more rapidly, its motion may be greatly increased by leaving the air-cock partially open, when the condensing steam will iiow off and the chambers will be quickly lled. No time in such case may be required for the condensation of steam.

The discharge ends of the water-tubes J' J' are provided with a large number of small' openings, M, through which the water is discharged in a spray or shower, whereby the condensation of steam in such chambers is accelerated.

It is obvious that a single wide port might be substituted for each series of narrow (water)` ports shown without changingthe capacity of the valve. The several narrow ports are, however, preferred, as the oscillating movement required in opening and closing therein is thereby diminished.

My device operates as follows: One end of the steam-coil being in communication with the boiler and the other with the steam-trap, the steam-pressure from the boiler forces the water from said steam-pipes through the ports in valve-tube C into the upper water-chamber. At the same time water is forced by gravity from the heater, hydrant, or reservoir through tube I and tubes J J into the said upper chamber, when said chamber, upon beingiilled, is caused to drop by the gravity of the water therein, thereby turning the sleeve D on said valve-tube, thus closing the several ports to said full chamber and opening therein to the empty one. Simultaneously with said downward movement ofthe full chamber one of the steam-ports is opened, when steam is admitted from the boiler through steam-tube H, chamber G, lports F', and tube E into said waterchamber, thus forming an equilibrium of pressure between said chamber and boiler, as mentioned, when the water flows out through pipe I into the' outlet side of said valve-tube C, when it passes therefrom through pipe J into the boiler. Thus so long as the water coutinues, to ilow said chambers are caused to oscillate and cut off and reverse the flow of water and steam to and from the respective chambers to the boiler. In like manner, as the respective chambers rise and are being illed with water the air-valves are opened, as described, a-nd closed as they descend, and also, when occasion requires, a fresh supply of water is admitted into the respective chambers asthey ascend and is cut off as they descend.

Thus it is obvious that by locating all the ports in a single valve-sleeve in the manner de scribed they are all simultaneously actuated by a force equal to the gravity of the water contained in the respective chambers, whereby a positive action of the apparatus is attained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the oscillating chambers of aboiler-feeder, of tubes I I, center block, B, tubes E E and tubes E E', sleeve I), and a single tubular valve, C, said tubular valve being provided with two 'sets of inlet and two sets of outlet water-ports and two steam ports, said ports being respectively adapted to alternately communicate with the respective water-chambers, as set forth.

2. The combination and arrangement, with the tubular valve C, provided with steam-chamber G and ports F F, of steam-tube H, communicating between said steam-chamber and the boiler, and steam-tubes E E, communicating from said steam-chamber to the upper ends of the water-chambers, as set forth.

3. The combination ofvalve G, provided with two sets of inlet-ports, a a, and two sets of outlet-ports, g g, with the sleeve D, provided with two sets of inlet-ports, d d, and two sets of outlet-ports, h It, the number ot' ports in said sets being increased or diminished to increase or diminish the capacity of said-valve without increasingthe motion of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of the chambers A A, water-pipes II, steam-pipes E E, center block, B, valve-sleeve D, tubular valve C, watertube J, and steam-tube H, said valve-tube and valve-sleeve being provided with the several sets of inlet and outlet ports, as set forth.

5. The combination ofthe sleeveD, provided with ports F' F', valve-tube C, provided with water-chambers H', and two ports, K', adapted to communicate with ports L' L and water-chambers A A, pipe J' J' being provided with perforated discharges, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of sleeve l), provided IOC IIO

i bl.

with ports D' D', valve-tube O, provided with two ports C', said ports being adapted to communicate with s'ztid ports D' D', tubes E' E', and chambers A A, as set forth:

7. The combination of the chambers A A, tubes I I, center block,B, sleeve D, valve-tube C, chambers A', I-I', and G, the tube C having the steam-pipe H passing inside of it to chamher G, and pipe I' passinginside of itto chamber H', and pipe B' passing inside of it to chamber A', valve-tube O and valve-sleeve D being provided with two sets of outlet and two sets ot' inlet ports, d d and a a, steamports F' F', air-ports C' and D', and waterports L' L', said ports being respectively A15 adapted to alternately communicate with the respective water-chambers, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS H. VEST.

Witnesses WM. J. SINNOTT, C. T. BENEDICT. 

